Cara Krmpotich

Cara Krmpotich is a Professor and Associate Dean at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Information, specializing in museum anthropology with a focus on decolonizing and Indigenizing practices. She co-directs the Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Cultures (GRASAC), advancing repatriation efforts and Indigenous heritage sovereignty. Krmpotich also co-led DigiLabs, exploring equity and ethics in digital cultural heritage. Her academic leadership includes roles as Past-President of the Council for Museum Anthropology and Board member of the Ontario Museum Association.

Education:

• DPhil, University of Oxford (2004–2008)
• MA, University of British Columbia (2002–2004)
• BA, Trent University (1997–2001)
• Certification in Museum Management and Curatorship, Fleming College (1999–2000)

Research Interests: Repatriation of cultural property, kinship and material culture, community-engaged museum practices, digital heritage ethics, and Indigenous sovereignty in cultural institutions. Her work bridges anthropological theory with actionable initiatives to address historical inequities in museum collections.

Grants & Collaborations:

• SSHRC-funded projects on ethical stewardship of Indigenous heritage and digital colonial collections (2013–2025)
• Canada Foundation for Innovation grants for mobilizing Indigenous heritage research (2018–2025)
• Initiatives with institutions like the Smithsonian and University of Edinburgh on repatriation and reconciliation

Teaching: Courses include Collection Management, Curatorial Practice, and Museums & Indigenous Communities. Krmpotich emphasizes critical pedagogy and practical engagement with museum ethics.